Force Sensitive Sensing

Abstract

An example force-sensitive measuring device includes: a main body having a proximal end and a distal end; a frame coupled to the main body at the proximal end; a spring coupled between the main body and the frame; a sensor coupled to the main body; and a position sensor coupled to the proximal end of the main body, where, when the sensor touches a surface, the spring is compressed and the position sensor detects that the distal end of the main body is touching the surface.

1 . A force-sensitive measuring device comprising:
 a main body having a proximal end and a distal end;   a frame coupled to the main body at the proximal end;   a spring coupled between the main body and the frame;   a sensor coupled to the main body; and   a position sensor coupled to the proximal end of the main body, whereby when the sensor touches a surface, the spring is compressed and the position sensor detects that the distal end of the main body is touching the surface.   
     
     
         2 . The force-sensitive measuring device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is thermocouple. 
     
     
         3 . The force-sensitive measuring device of  claim 1 , wherein the spring comprises a multi-wave compression spring. 
     
     
         4 . The force-sensitive measuring device of  claim 1 , wherein the main body comprises a channel extending between the proximal end and the distal end, and wherein the sensor is disposed in the channel. 
     
     
         5 . The force-sensitive measuring device of  claim 1 , wherein the main body comprises a bolt with a bolt head formed on the proximal end of the main body. 
     
     
         6 . The force-sensitive measuring device of  claim 5 , wherein the sensor comprises a printed circuit board formed between the bolt head and the frame. 
     
     
         7 . The force-sensitive measuring device of  claim 1 , wherein the position sensor comprises a force-sensitive resistor. 
     
     
         8 . The force-sensitive measuring device of  claim 7 , wherein the force-sensitive resistor is coupled between the spring and the frame. 
     
     
         9 . The force-sensitive measuring device of  claim 1 , wherein the main body comprises a threaded portion formed on at least a part of a surface extending between the proximal and the distal end. 
     
     
         10 . A system for force-sensitive temperature measurement, the system comprising:
 an actuator;   a frame coupled to the actuator;   a controller operably coupled to the actuator, wherein the controller is configured to move the actuator between a deployed position and a retracted position; and   a plurality of force-sensitive measuring devices coupled to the frame, wherein each of the plurality of force-sensitive measuring devices comprises:   a main body having a proximal end and a distal end;   a spring coupled between the main body and the frame;   a sensor coupled to the main body; and   a position sensor coupled to the proximal end of the main body, whereby when the sensor touches a surface, the spring is compressed and the position sensor detects that the distal end of the main body is touching the surface.   
     
     
         11 . The system for force-sensitive temperature measurement of  claim 10 , wherein the sensor is a thermocouple. 
     
     
         12 . The system for force-sensitive temperature measurement of  claim 10 , wherein the spring comprises a multi-wave compression spring. 
     
     
         13 . The system for force-sensitive temperature measurement of  claim 10 , wherein the main body comprises a channel extending between the proximal end and the distal end, and wherein the sensor is disposed in the channel. 
     
     
         14 . The system for force-sensitive temperature measurement of  claim 10 , wherein the main body comprises a bolt with a bolt head formed on the proximal end of the main body. 
     
     
         15 . The system for force-sensitive temperature measurement of  claim 14 , wherein the sensor comprises a printed circuit board formed between the bolt head and the frame. 
     
     
         16 . The system for force-sensitive temperature measurement of  claim 10 , wherein the position sensor comprises a force-sensitive resistor. 
     
     
         17 . The system for force-sensitive temperature measurement of  claim 16 , wherein the force-sensitive resistor is coupled between the spring and the frame. 
     
     
         18 . The system for force-sensitive temperature measurement of  claim 10 , wherein the main body comprises a threaded portion formed on at least a part of a surface extending between the proximal and the distal end. 
     
     
         19 . A method of making a force-sensitive measuring device, the method comprising:
 providing a bolt with a proximal end and a distal end, wherein a bolt head is formed on the proximal end, and a threaded portion comprising bolt threads extends along a surface of the bolt between the proximal end and the distal end;   removing at least a portion of the bolt threads from the bolt to form a smooth section along at least a portion of the surface of the bolt;   positioning a printed circuit board adjacent to the head of the bolt, the printed circuit board having an electrical contact;   inserting the bolt through a hole formed in a frame;   coupling a spring between the bolt and the frame;   attaching a nut to the threaded portion of the bolt so that the nut couples the spring, frame, and printed circuit board together; and   inserting a sensor through a channel in the bolt towards the distal end of the bolt.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the channel in the bolt is formed by boring a channel between the proximal end of the bolt and the distal end of the bolt.